A single piece suspension and actuator arm includes a load beam having an integrated flexure and hinge each formed of the same web as the load beam, the flexure being foldable at the hinge to lie over the load beam engaged therewith to secure the flexure in its folded over condition. The load beam defines an additional attachment structure that attaches to cooperating attachment structure on the actuator arm, with one or more of the attachment structures comprising a tab and slot arrangement.
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1. A single piece suspension attachable to an actuator arm, said suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion, a spring portion, and a rigid portion and rearwardly thereof a first attachment structure, said load beam having an integrated flexure and hinge each formed of the same web as the load beam, said hinge being disposed between said flexure and the distal end of said rigid portion; said flexure comprising a frame, a cantilevered tongue within said frame, said rigid portion or tongue defining a dimple, and a second attachment structure complementary to first attachment structure, said flexure being foldable at said hinge to lie over and generally parallel with said rigid portion with the flexure tongue and said rigid portion being registered with said dimple, said flexure second attachment structure being engaged with said first attachment structure to secure said flexure in its folded over condition to said load beam.
16. A single piece suspension and actuator arm, said suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion, a spring portion, and a rigid portion defining a first attachment structure, said load beam having an integrated flexure and hinge each formed of, the same web as the load beam, said hinge being disposed between said flexure and the distal end of said rigid portion; said flexure comprising a frame, a cantilevered tongue within said frame, and a second attachment structure complementary to first attachment structure, said flexure being foldable at said hinge to lie over said rigid portion, said flexure second attachment structure being engaged with said first attachment structure to secure said flexure in its folded over condition to said load beam; a dimple extending between said rigid portion and said tongue, and third attachment structure defined by said base portion, said actuator arm defining cooperating attachment structure for attaching said load beam to said actuator arm by its said third attachment structure.
25. A single piece suspension attached to an actuator arm, said suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion, a spring portion, and a rigid portion defining a dimple and rearwardly thereof a first attachment structure, said load beam having an integrated flexure and hinge each formed of the same web as the load beam, said hinge being disposed between said flexure and the distal end of said rigid portion; said flexure comprising a frame, a cantilevered tongue within said frame, and a second attachment structure complementary to first attachment structure, said flexure being foldable at said hinge to lie over and generally parallel with said rigid portion with the flexure tongue registered with the rigid portion dimple, said flexure second attachment structure being engaged with said first attachment structure to secure said flexure in its folded over condition to said load beam; said load beam base portion defining a third attachment structure adapted to engage said actuator arm, said third attachment structure comprising a tab projecting normally to said base portion, said actuator arm defining a cooperating attachment structure for securing said base portion to said actuator arm, said cooperating attachment structure comprising a slot, said third attachment structure tab comprising deflectable prong sections that pass through said slot in deflected condition and lock in said slot in their undeflected condition for attaching said load beam base portion to said actuator arm; said first attachment structure comprising a slot, said second attachment structure comprising a tab projecting normally to said to said flexure and adapted to be received in said slot in attaching relation of said flexure to said rigid portion, said second attachment structure tab comprising deflectable prong sections that pass through said first attachment slot in deflected condition and lock in said first attachment slot in their undeflected condition for attaching said flexure to said rigid portion; said hinge comprising left and right elements spaced from and parallel to the long axis of said load beam, said elements being within a plane including said rigid portion.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 60/199,032, filed Apr. 21, 2000.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to disk drive suspensions, and more particularly to a single piece suspension for disk drive suspension.
2. Description of the Related Art
Disk drive suspensions typically comprise a load beam supported on an actuator arm by an actuator arm. A flexure is attached to the load beam to carry a slider and its electronics adjacent a disk. The cost of suspensions is desirably lessened to enable ever lower cost disk drives. Manufacturing expense is a substantial part of the suspension cost. The elimination of manufacturing steps, particularly steps requiring utmost precision and therefore time is desirable.
It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an improved disk drive suspension, and at substantial cost savings through simplification of the manufacturing process and the elimination of unneeded process steps. It is a further object to integrate the load beam and flexure and the actuator arm attachment structure while maintaining the traditional flexure features of a tongue and frame in a separate plane from the load beam. It is a further object to provide novel hinging and fastening features that enable the ready manufacture of a single piece suspension that is snapped together from its flat, as-formed condition into its final configuration and snapped together with the actuator arm as well. It is a still further object to provide various hinging structures that will vary in stiffness and tongue orientation relative to the load beam and dimple for different levels of softness in springing of the slider.
These and other objects of the invention to become apparent hereinafter are realized in a single piece suspension attachable to an actuator arm, the suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion, a spring portion, and a rigid portion and rearwardly thereof a first attachment structure, the load beam having an integrated flexure and hinge each formed of the same web as the load beam, the hinge being disposed between the flexure and the distal end of the rigid portion; the flexure comprising a frame, a cantilevered tongue within the frame, the rigid portion or the tongue defining a dimple, and a second attachment structure complementary to first attachment structure, the flexure being foldable at the hinge to lie over and generally parallel with the rigid portion with the flexure tongue registered with the rigid portion dimple, the flexure second attachment structure being engaged with the first attachment structure to secure the flexure in its folded over condition to the load beam.
In this and like embodiments, typically, the load beam base portion defines a third attachment structure adapted to engage an actuator arm, the third attachment structure comprises a tab projecting normally to the base portion, and including also an actuator arm having a cooperating attachment structure for securing the base portion to the actuator arm, the cooperating attachment structure comprises a slot, the third attachment structure tab comprising deflectable prong sections that pass through the slot in deflected condition and lock in the slot in their undeflected condition for attaching the load beam base portion to the actuator arm, or in the alternative, the cooperating attachment structure comprises a first flat, the third attachment structure tab comprising a second flat opposing the first flat, the first and second flats being weldable to each other to attach the load beam base portion to the actuator arm.
In this and like embodiments, also, the first attachment structure comprises a slot, the second attachment structure comprising a tab projecting normally to the to the flexure and adapted to be received in the slot in attaching relation of the flexure to the rigid portion, the second attachment structure tab comprises deflectable prong sections that pass through the slot in deflected condition and lock in the slot in their undeflected condition for attaching the flexure to the rigid portion, and given the presence of the actuator arm, the load beam defines a third attachment structure comprising a tab projecting normally to the base portion, the actuator arm having a cooperating attachment structure for securing the base portion to the actuator arm. Preferably, in this embodiment, the cooperating attachment structure comprises a slot, the third attachment structure tab comprising deflectable prong sections that pass through the slot in deflected condition and lock in the slot in their undeflected condition for attaching the load beam base portion to the actuator arm.
Alternatively, the first attachment structure comprises a first flat, and the third attachment structure tab comprising a second flat opposing the first flat, the first and second flats being weldable to each other to attach the flexure to the rigid portion.
With respect to the hinge, typically the hinge comprises left and right elements spaced from and parallel to the long axis of the load beam, the elements being within a plane including the rigid portion and bounded by the outer edges of the flexure frame, the rigid portion has a center section extending distally, the hinge being supported by the center section. Alternatively, the hinge comprises left and right elements spaced from and parallel to the long axis of the load beam, the elements being without a plane including the rigid portion and bounded by the outer edges of the flexure frame. In the alternative embodiment, the rigid portion has a center section extending distally, and left and right outboard sections also extending distally parallel with and spaced from the center section, the outboard sections supporting the flexure, the outboard sections having opposed extents each defining the hinge. In this embodiment, preferably the outboard extents are etched to a lesser thickness than the outboard sections generally.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a single piece suspension and actuator arm, the suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion, a spring portion, and a rigid portion defining a first attachment structure, the load beam having an integrated flexure and hinge each formed of the same web as the load beam, the hinge being disposed between the flexure and the distal end of the rigid portion; the flexure comprising a frame, a cantilevered tongue within the frame, and a second attachment structure complementary to first attachment structure, the flexure being foldable at the hinge to lie over angled to or and generally parallel with the rigid portion, the flexure second attachment structure being engaged with the first attachment structure to secure the flexure in its folded over condition to the load beam; a dimple between the rigid portion and the tongue, and third attachment structure defined by the base portion, the actuator arm defining cooperating attachment structure for attaching the load beam to the actuator arm by its the third attachment structure.
In this and like embodiments, typically, one or more of the attachment structures comprise a tab and slot arrangement, the tab comprises deflectable prong sections that pass through the slot in deflected condition and lock in the slot in their undeflected condition to effect attachment between the tab and slot, the flexure frame has longitudinal extents, the longitudinal extents being etched to have a lesser thickness than the flexure generally, the hinge is etched to have a lesser thickness than the rigid portion generally.
In particular embodiments, the hinge comprises a flat extent of the load beam web, the flat hinge extent has a center portion and distal and proximate transverse notches on opposite sides of the center portion, the center portion having a length such that the tongue lies parallel to the rigid portion in dimple engagement in the folded over condition of the flexure, the hinge being bent from the plane of the flexure and the rigid portion at the notches, or, alternatively the flat hinge extent has a center portion, a center notch, and distal and proximate transverse notches on opposite sides of the center portion notch, the center portion having a length such that the tongue lies parallel to the rigid portion in dimple engagement in the folded over condition of the flexure, the hinge being bent on itself at the center notch, or alternatively, the hinge comprises an arcuate extent formed from the load beam web, the arcuate extent having distal and proximate notches formed therein at its intersection with the flexure and the rigid portion, the notches being curved oppositely from the arcuate extent to provide resiliency in the hinging of the flexure to the rigid portion as a function of the flexing of the arcuate extent.
The invention will be further described in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:
Typical suspension designs have been three-piece systems having a load beam, a flexure and mount or swage plate that are assembled by a laser welding process. These designs require that all three components be separately designed, manufactured and assembled. This then requires tooling to support all three components, such as the flexure form tooling, the load beam form tooling and the mount form tooling, and also weld tooling and laser equipment for assembly operation.
In the present invention, all three components are formed in a method requiring only one etch step and one form tool. The flexure can be mounted without welding or with welding. Suspension production costs are reduced by 40%. The suspension is mountable to an actuator arm without the need for swaging. Additionally, the herein disclosed suspension design provides a pitch restraint feature with no added structure.
With reference now to the drawings in detail, in
Load beam 14 has an integrated flexure 28 and integrated hinge 32, each integrally formed from the same web 34 as the load beam. The hinge 32 is disposed between the flexure 28 and the distal end 36 of the load beam rigid portion 22.
Flexure 28 comprises a frame 38 having longitudinally disposed lateral elements 42, 44, and transverse distal and proximate elements 46, 48. A cantilevered tongue 52 extends within the frame 38. Flexure 28 defines a second attachment structure 54 that is complementary to the first attachment structure 26, that is, the first and second attachment structures will interfit or otherwise engage by themselves or with fastening aids such as welding. Flexure 28 is foldable at the hinge 32 to lie over and be angled to or generally parallel with the load beam rigid portion 22, Flexure tongue 52 registers with the rigid portion dimple 24. The flexure second attachment structure 54, here shown as a divided tab 541 having left and right prongs 56, 58, is registered with and, upon insertion, interlocks with the first attachment structure 26 to secure the flexure 28 in its folded-over condition to the load beam rigid portion 22.
The mounting of the load beam 14 to the actuator arm 12 is also improved with the present invention, using an embodiment of the slot and prong system shown for the attachment of the flexure 28 to the load beam. Thus, the load beam base portion 16 has formed therein a third attachment structure 64 shown here as comprising the mentioned divided tab 641 projecting normally to the base portion and comprising left and right prongs 66, 68. Actuator arm 12 has a cooperating attachment structure 72 for engaging the third attachment structure 64. In the present embodiment, the cooperating attachment structure 72 comprises a slot 721 that is sized to receive in locking relation the attachment structure 64. The third attachment structure prongs 66, 68 pass through the slot 721 in inwardly deflected condition and passing the overcenter condition outwardly deflect as their tooth portions 661, 681 pass the wall of the slot to lock in the slot in their undeflected condition for attaching the load beam base portion 16 to the actuator arm 12.
The base portion 16 can also be fastened to the arm 12 where the cooperating attachment structure 72 comprises a first flat 74 by having the third attachment structure 64 comprise tab 642 having a flat terminus 76 that defines a second flat 78, the first and second flats being weldable to each other to attach the load beam base portion 16 to the actuator arm 12.
With reference now to
Alternatively, in
In
In a preferred embodiment then, the invention provides a single piece suspension 10 and actuator arm 12, the suspension load beam having an integrated flexure 28 and hinge 32 each formed of the same web 34 as the load beam, the hinge being disposed between the flexure and the distal end 36 of the load beam rigid portion 22.
The flexure 28 comprises a frame 38, a cantilevered tongue 52 within the frame, and a second attachment structure 54 complementary to the first attachment structure 26. The flexure 28 is foldable at the hinge 32 to lie over angled to or generally parallel with the load beam rigid portion 22. The flexure second attachment structure 54 is engaged with the rigid portion first attachment structure 26 to secure the flexure in its folded over condition to the load beam 14. A dimple 24 is formed in the rigid portion 22 to be opposite the tongue 52 for gimballing of the slider 92, attached to tongue 52, about the dimple. A third attachment structure 64 is defined by the load beam base portion 16, the actuator arm 12 defining cooperating attachment structure 72 for attaching the load beam 14 to the actuator arm by the third attachment structure. In this embodiment, typically, one or more of the attachment structures 26, 54, 64 and 72 comprise a tab 641 and slot 721 arrangement, the tab comprising deflectable prongs 66, 68 that pass through the slot in deflected condition and lock in the slot in their undeflected condition to effect attachment between the tab and slot.
With reference to
In
In
The invention thus provides an improved disk drive suspension, and at substantial cost savings through simplification of the manufacturing process and the elimination of unneeded process steps by integrating the load beam and flexure and the actuator arm attachment structures while maintaining the traditional flexure features of a tongue and frame flexure in a separate plane from the load beam. The invention provides novel hinging and fastening features that enable the ready manufacture of a single piece suspension that is snapped together from its flat, as-formed condition into its final configuration and snapped together with the actuator arm as well, and includes various hinging structures that will vary in stiffness and tongue orientation relative to the load beam and dimple for different levels of softness in springing of the slider. The foregoing objects are thus met.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Jun 30 2000 | Magnecomp Corp. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Jun 30 2000 | SUMMERS, ROBERT | MAGNECOMP CORP | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 010979 | /0706 | |
Sep 25 2001 | KHAN, AMANULLAH | Magnecomp Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012288 | /0366 | |
Oct 02 2001 | PA, PONNA | Magnecomp Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012288 | /0366 | |
Oct 10 2001 | SUMMERS, ROBERT | Magnecomp Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012288 | /0366 |
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